“He’s become one of the fans’ favourites and a lot of people are watching him. People appreciate him more now."
Yannick Gingras knows a lot of eyes will be on Foiled Again as he attempts to win Saturday’s $567,000 George Morton Levy Memorial Pacing Series championship at Yonkers Raceway, but the driver is unfazed by any additional pressure that might bring.
“It’s fun,” Gingras said. "Every race, he breaks his own record by adding to his earnings and hopefully he can keep doing it and make it a record that will be very hard to break. We just want him to keep adding [wins] to his resume.
“As a driver, this is the kind of horse you want to drive. There’s no pressure. I’m excited to race him.”
The 10-year-old Foiled Again is the richest harness racing horse in North American history, with $6.13 million in career earnings. He has been named the Dan Patch Award winner for best older male pacer each of the last three years, equalling Rambling Willie’s record for the most honours in the division. In 2011, he was U.S. Pacer of the Year.
Foiled Again, who has won 80 of 203 lifetime races, captured the Levy Series in 2009 and 2010. He was second by a neck to Razzle Dazzle last year and second by a head to stablemate Atochia in 2012. He finished third in 2011, beaten by a half-length.
This year, Foiled Again competed in all five of the Levy’s preliminary rounds, winning the first four times and finishing sixth from post seven last week. The setback ended a six-race win streak dating to last season, which was part of a span of 13 starts in which he posted 10 victories and three second-place finishes.
“Last week it just didn’t work out,” Gingras said. “Everyone left inside of me and then [Special Forces] pulled first up and didn’t go anywhere. [But] Foiled is fine and ready to go.”
Foiled Again, owned by the Burke Racing Stable, Weaver Bruscemi LLC and JJK Stables, will start the final from post No. 3 as part of an entry with Bettors Edge for trainer Ron Burke. Foiled Again drew post seven for the 2013 Levy final, post eight in 2012 and post six in 2011.
“Finally after a few years he drew good,” Gingras said. “And he didn’t draw inside of post three this whole series, and was outside [of post five] three times. He was due for a good draw.
“I’m really happy with him. He’s in great form.”
In his fourth round win on April 12, Foiled Again paced 1:51, which equalled his best mile ever at Yonkers. Foiled Again, who has won 30 of 44 lifetime starts at The Hilltop, also won in 1:51 during the preliminary round of the 2012 Levy. The Levy stakes record is 1:50.4, set by Silver Almahurst in 1993. The track record is 1:50.2, shared by Sapphire City, who also is a Levy finalist, and Fat Mans Alley.
“I definitely like my spot,” Gingras said. “[Foiled Again] just has that refuse-to-lose mentality right now.”
The field in post position order for the Levy final with listed drivers and trainers:
1. Sapphire City, Eric Carlson, Paul Blumenfeld
2. P H Supercam, Jason Bartlett, P.J. Fraley
3. Foiled Again, Yannick Gingras, Ron Burke
4. Texican N, Brian Sears, Peter Tritton
5. Apprentice Hanover, Jody Jamieson, Ben Wallace
6. Bettors Edge, George Brennan, Ron Burke
7. Dancin Yankee, Ron Pierce, Josh Green
8. Mach It So, Tim Tetrick, P.J. Fraley
* P H Supercam and Mach It So will race as an entry (head numbers 1 and 1A, respectively). Foiled Again and Bettors Edge will race as an entry (head numbers 2 and 2A, respectively).
** Finalists by wins in divisions of the series: Foiled Again (4), Mach It So (3), Bettors Edge (3), Dancin Yankee (1), P H Supercam (1), Apprentice Hanover (1).
This story courtesy of Harness Racing Communications, a division of the U.S. Trotting Association. For more information, visit www.ustrotting.com.